Jack Draper continued his spectacular comeback from an arm damage by beating Francisco Cerundolo to set up a round-of-16 clash with Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells.
Draper rode his luck on the finish of the second set to clinch a 6-1, 7-5 win and set up his first assembly with Djokovic since he took the primary set off the defending champion on his Wimbledon debut in 2021.
Draper, now 24, returned from an eight-month absence from the ATP Tour in Dubai final week, and his win over Cerundolo marked the primary time he has received successive matches on the identical match since Queen’s final June.
Draper informed Sky Sports: “I’m only just getting to the point where I’m playing without pain in my arm, so it’s not easy to feel really confident.
“Obviously I’ve been enjoying a little bit bit, however I’ve bought to settle for that my tennis is not going to be utterly there for some time.”
Draper breezed through the first set but was severely tested at the tailend of the second as Cerundolo served to level the tie before dropping serve twice in succession as the Briton stepped up at the key moments.
And he admitted he would have to raise his game for his long-awaited rematch with Djokovic, who reached the fourth round for the first time since 2017 after squeezing past Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.
Draper added: “I’ve been watching him since I used to be a younger boy and for my part he is the best participant of all time.
“When you come up against him you know he’s going to be there mentally, you know he’s going to make it an incredibly tough match and play some crazy tennis and I’m going to have to be ready for that.”
Fellow Briton and former champion Cameron Norrie additionally reached spherical 4 after an excellent 6-4 6-4 win over world No. 6 Alex de Minaur.
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He will meet Australia qualifier Rinky Hijikata, who upset tenth seed Alexander Bublik 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz dropped the primary set to twenty sixth seed Arthur Rinderknech earlier than profitable 6-7, 6-3, 6-2.
Sonay Kartal saved British curiosity alive within the ladies’s singles as she recovered from dropping the primary set to beat fifteenth seed Madison Keys.
The former Australian Open champion took the primary set 6-2, however the British No. 2 took the following two 6-2, 6-3 to full victory in just below two hours.
Kartal will face the present Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina within the spherical of 16 after the world No. 3 beat Ukrainian twenty eighth seed Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4.
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek eased via 6-3 6-2 towards Maria Sakkari, whereas Elena Svitolina beat Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-2.
